The Giant White Flag of Jurgen Klinsmann

You play to win the game Jurgen Klinsmann.

You play to win the game. And it seems like you have totally forgotten this. Now, you recently talked about how it’s unrealistic that the United States can win the World Cup in Brazil. We all know this. Soccer fans, non-soccer fans, non-sports fans know this. It is general knowledge. Heck, even the players on the team (Minus Donovan, you idiot) are fully aware that it is a long gruesome road to even consider the opportunity to win the entire thing. But want to know something Mr. Klinsmann?

The 2003 Florida Marlins were not expected to win the World Series.

The 2004 Detroit Pistons were not expected to win the NBA Finals.

The 2007 New York Giants were not expected to win the Super Bowl.

The 2004 Tampa Bay Lightning were not expected to win the Stanley Cup.

Each of these teams were not even considered to be in the running. The Marlins were last in the division in May of 2003, the Pistons were taking on a Laker team on the NBA Finals that had nearly an entire starting lineup of Hall of Famers (and arguably the greatest coach in the history of the sport), the Giants took on arguably the greatest team in the history of the NFL (And still are, even if they fumbled on that fourth quarter), and the Lightning (a Florida hockey team) was an afterthought the entire year leading up to the playoffs. But none of these teams quit, none of these teams saw the odds and just simply walked away. They all fought on and ultimately and unexpectedly won the big prize.

I am not saying that the American team has a shot, but what I am saying is that why not even give it a chance? Why not give your team and the fans at least a slight glimmer of hope? Everyone starts in the same boat come World Cup time. Even if you are in the Group of Death, it doesn’t give you the right to automatically give up. This is sports we are talking about. The odds of the team you follow winning the entire prize is a.l.w.a.y.s. against you. Whether it be a 1-in-30 shot or a 1-and-32 shot, chances are your team will not win. This is the same thing day in and day out. The Cubs have not won in over 100 years. Cleveland has not seen a champ since the 1950s. And don’t get me started on the multitude of droughts in the NBA like the Milwaukee Bucks, the New York Knicks, Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, and Golden State Warriors…

But that being said, every dog has his day, every stopped clock is right twice a day. In the past decade alone we saw the droughts of the Red Sox, Phillies, Mavericks, Blackhawks, Bruins, and the Giants (San Francisco) mercifully end. There is always a chance. Always. Every single time. In sports, absolutely nothing is impossible. Nothing. In sports, any record can fall, perfection can be achieved, and greatness can rise from the depths of nothingness. This is a fact, and this is why sports remain such an impactful force in American life---that glimmer of hope.

Klinsmann however doesn’t believe in offering that hope. He doesn’t believe in at least considering the option of wanting to make some noise in the World Cup. So what’s the point of playing? What’s the point of trying if you supposedly know you aren’t going to win? What’s the point of even making the effort? This would be the equivalent of going through a marriage that you know is going to end in a year. Why go for it, if your expectation is failure? Klinsmann might be a great soccer coach, but the comments and the dropping of Donovan are key components to a leader that will lead you to a successful road potentially, but never the Promised Land.

So when are you allowed to try Klinsmann? Next World Cup in 2018? Or the World Cup after that in 2022? Nothing in life is certain, nothing in life is guaranteed. This is why you must grab life by the horns and fight as if you are holding your final breath. This is what separates the good teams from the great teams—the willingness to fight against the odds, against the circumstances, against all the critics, naysayers, and non-believers. Under Klinsmann the U.S. Soccer team is a good one, potentially a great one, even if it is still a few leagues below the powerhouses like Germany, Spain, and Brazil. But under Klinsmann, they will never achieve the ultimate prize mainly because they don’t believe they will, and won’t have such an expectation before the opening kick even begins.  

You play to win the game. Every time. Doesn’t matter how good or bad your team is, you still go out there and play for your fans, for your family, for your hometown/country, and for yourself.

Otherwise, there’s no point in even playing.